Those who cover and cheer for the Cincinnati Bengals have all received the memo that we should push offensive tackle Amarius Mims for All-Pro in 2026.
For his part, Mims has not let down his team, fans, or quarterback. However, another aspect of his game must take an incredible, nearly monumental step if he is going to be recognized as a Pro Bowler, let alone an All-Pro.
But if Mims can make a leap where he, the rest of the offensive line, and the play-caller are most deficient, he will also help get Cincinnati’s rushing attack to where it needs to be to have a more balanced offense.
This town needs an enemy
After rushing 15 times for 23 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars, there is a lot of attention being paid to the Bengals’ rushing attack.
Unfortunately, some of that frustration is getting dumped on running back Chase Brown, who was dumped for -5 yards by safety Antonio Johnson on his very first touch of the afternoon.
However, like with protecting Joe Burrow, which has left something to be desired from the rest of the OL, springing Brown, or whichever running back you want to see, starts with the run blocking along the offensive line.
And this year, the offensive line starts with Amarius Mims.
Another clean sheet for Mims
The praise for Mims continues after posting another apparent clean sheet, not allowing pressure on 58 dropbacks against the Jaguars.
According to @NextGenStats, Bengals OT Amarius Mims did not allow a single pressure on 58 drop backs vs. Jacksonville
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) October 4, 2026
Pro Football Focus previously noted that Mims hadn’t allowed a pressure in 118 pass-block snaps, with the next closest at 80.
Now, we can make that 176 consecutive pass-blocking snaps without allowing a single pressure.
PFF has some backup from Pro Football Network, which credits Mims with a 0.0% pressure rate.
A breakout season was foreshadowed as Mims finished his 2025 season extremely strong. As PFF’s Bradley Locker pointed out, “Mims really hit his stride in the second half of 2025, earning an 81.0 overall grade from Weeks 12-18. In those seven weeks, Mims didn’t give up a sack and produced a 76.6 PFF run-blocking score.”
The momentum from Mims’ improved pass blocking seems to have carried into the 2026 season. His run blocking, on the other hand, seems to have hit some friction.
Mims must get dirty in the run game
Playing the OL is a lot like playing basketball in the NBA. Scorers get the highlights and big contracts, but we often forget about the defensive side of the evaluation.
The scorers in the NFL OL parlance are those who keep clean sheets in pass protection. Pass pro is easier to evaluate than run-blocking, and seemingly easier to master for some linemen whom we all grew up thinking preferred to fire off the ball, as every line coach ever yells fifty-eleven times during a practice.
For offensive linemen, especially those who play for Zac Taylor and in front of a QB who will drop back 54 times, it's easy to forget that NFL offenses must have a semblance of a rushing attack. As in basketball vernacular, "two-way players," if you will.
While Amarius Mims ranks second in pass-block grades, according to PFF, he ranks 27th among 69 qualified tackles overall. He does not rank higher because he ranks so poorly in run blocking.
According to PFF, Mims ranks 59th in run blocking among 69 tackles. That is not good.
While he finished the 2026 season with a run-block grade of 76.6, Mims has begun this season with a 50.9 score.
Two weeks into the season, Mims was below average in negatively graded run-blocking rates. Even lower than his teammate Orlando Brown Jr.
Orlando Brown Jr. (64), Dylan Fairchild (62.3), Karras (60.3), and Dalton Risner (71.2) all have better run block grades than Cincinnati’s undisputed best offensive lineman, according to PFF.
That should not be the case.
Mims must set the standard
With all of the praise Mims is getting for his pass-blocking prowess, you would hope that his run blocking would follow suit. Perhaps he needs a new Taylor.
Hopefully, Mims will reach the run-blocking equivalent of where his pass blocking has arrived. Once there, he will be the best tackle in the NFL, which is what the Bengals need.
That is what Chase Brown needs. That is what Joe Burrow needs.
That is also what Zac Taylor needs as the de facto play caller.
Running the ball should be mandatory, not an option. But with Taylor at the helm, it must be undeniable.
However, if the best offensive lineman on the team is below average in that domain, then Taylor and Burrow will continue to have an excuse to bypass that part of the offense.
But when Mims can become as dominant in the run game as he is in pass protection, then maybe he can speak up for the offensive line and say “run behind Dalton and me” the next time the Bengals face a 4th-and-1 to keep a critical drive alive.
And if Joe Burrow is checking out of runs to get to passes, perhaps Mims can become the guy to check Burrow, and maybe even Zac Taylor.
But first, Mims must be the leader and example not just in pass protection but in run blocking as well.
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